Tottenham Vs Manchester City: Match Thread

[BringBack_leGin]

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http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=63407

 

[spurs_viola]

The first half performance was brilliant, all it lacked was goals. A few pointers though. I wish Dawson would stop attempting Hoddle like passes, he can't do them. 9 times out of ten he gives the ball away. Also, I wish our stikers moved for the players around them, so often Bale or Modric had the ball and there was no run from Defoe or Crouch. This is something we must work on.

Good points, agree fully. It was noticeable how our movement and passing became sharper when Pav and Keane replaced Crouch and Defoe, and when Giovani finally came on too.

In the 2nd half we ran out of ideas and the changes should have been made earlier to present different problems to them.

Also, strange how Silva who had longer journey back than Giovani was OK to play more than an hour from the start, while Gio was presumably rested till 15 min to go...

 

[brett.spurs]

Gio wasn't rested, he's just not 1st choice (yet)

 

[spurs_viola]

Just got back from WHL. I thought Lennon, Crouch and Defoe all looked a bit off the pace and lacked the sharpness that we're used to. Pav, Keane and Gio looked much more of an attacking threat and I think if they'd been on from the start we'd have bagged a couple of goals. Still, we played very well and a point against City is a good result but I feel it's definitely 2 points dropped here. If we can keep up this level of performance throughout the season then we'll be a big threat.

Agree on the whole, although Crouch and Defoe performed well in the first 20-25 min when we were on top. Lennon seems to lack confidence and is rarely taking defenders on even though he had several chances to do that today, esp after Zabaleta got a yellow card.

I would have preferred some changes to happen at half-time instead of waiting for 65 min, eg Pav for Crouch after first half, Giovani for Lennon after 55 min, Keane for Defoe (if things did not improve enough up front) after 65 min.

 

[spurs_viola]

Gio wasn't rested, he's just not 1st choice (yet)

Agree, it's just that so many people thought he would at least play most of the 2nd half, not the last 15 min - when it is almost impossible to get into the game well enough. Still, he almost made an immediate impact when Pav cleverly dummied for him, but the ball came through too fast and perhaps if Giovani had more time to get up to speed, he may have reacted sharper?...

 

[StartingPrice]

For the first time in many years I was laid back, calm and pretty sure they would'nt score. Our defence looked very solid

This...for most of the match:grin:

City fan here, back for the first time since that disappointing (for us anyway) night in May.

Well, if I'd been offered the draw before the match I'd have taken it no questions asked, given you're our bogey team. Glad to get this game out of the way first too. As it was, we were extremely lucky. In the first half it could've been 4 or 5-0 to you were it not for Hart, who I'm sure you'll agree played an absolute blinder. Bale tore Richards a new arsehole every time, but I felt Kolarov had a decent half given he was playing with an injury, I thought in general he kept Lennon out fairly well. Your defence did a good job stopping Tevez, Silva, SWP et al in their tracks. Felt we were playing 4-6-0 at times though, Tevez playing as a lone striker was dropping far too deep and we didn't have an outlet up front like you had Crouch, for example. Felt Adebayor or Jo (don't laugh, he's had a decent preseason ) should've started with him.

Second half was a bit more even, how SWP didn't put us 1-0 up at the start I will never know. When Adam Johnson came on I felt we had a much better attack, but in the end the draw was a good result for us. I'd say we owe it to Hart for keeping us in it though, without him it could've been yet another drubbing. What today showed is that it's going to go to the wire again regarding 4th, we've got a better squad of players but you've got a better team. May the best team over the season reach the CL

Oh, and g'luck in the week for your CL game.

:clap::clap::clap: Cheers fella.
I'm still not convinced by your lot...there is no doubt you have some very good players, but, just as I said after the 4th place decider, they remain just that rather than a team who have gelled. Of course I can't say this will drag through the rest of the season...I just think you are making some purchases who may not flourish to replace players who haven't really had a fair crack at the whip, or players that you shouldn't really be looking to replace (like Bellamy, for instance).

I could be horribly wrong, howeever, and no doubt if you win the league you will be back on in May to say :razz:

Cheers:beer:

 

[I'mNotReallyHere]

This...for most of the match:grin:



:clap::clap::clap: Cheers fella.
I'm still not convinced by your lot...there is no doubt you have some very good players, but, just as I said after the 4th place decider, they remain just that rather than a team who have gelled. Of course I can't say this will drag through the rest of the season...I just think you are making some purchases who may not flourish to replace players who haven't really had a fair crack at the whip, or players that you shouldn't really be looking to replace (like Bellamy, for instance).

I could be horribly wrong, howeever, and no doubt if you win the league you will be back on in May to say :razz:

Cheers:beer:

Our season definitely depends on how well our players gel. They don't gel, we've got no chance of being where we want to be. I think if we do, we have a good chance of at least challenging the top 3, maybe better, but I'll be happy with a top 4 finish. Don't want to sound arrogant in saying that, but let's be honest; the amount of money that's been spent that's the least we should be getting. On the subject of Bellamy though, I'm behind the manager. He's been very good for us, but if he's a disruptive influence on the team, he should be gotten rid of. Going on SSN like he did last week was nothing short of disgraceful.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Good stuff INRH, I do think you guys have to click very quickly, for us it was all very much normal service resumed today I thought, a settled team playing comfortably and confidently. You'll be there or thereabouts, you have real quality at either end but you do need to gel quickly, and I don't think Mancini really knows his best team yet.

I thougt Hart obviously, and Kolo Toure were superb. Silva looked talented but not quite wised up to Premiership football not surprisingly, but when he gets used to having less time on the ball he could be very good for you.

Normally I'd end on wishing you a good season... but that would be mental.

 

[StartingPrice]

Our season definitely depends on how well our players gel. They don't gel, we've got no chance of being where we want to be. I think if we do, we have a good chance of at least challenging the top 3, maybe better, but I'll be happy with a top 4 finish. Don't want to sound arrogant in saying that, but let's be honest; the amount of money that's been spent that's the least we should be getting. On the subject of Bellamy though, I'm behind the manager. He's been very good for us, but if he's a disruptive influence on the team, he should be gotten rid of. Going on SSN like he did last week was nothing short of disgraceful.

I'm sure if my team spent as much as yours has I'd feel the same. I just feel that a lot of it is kinda panic-buying because of the new financial regulations. When Chelsea did it they had a better team, recent success to attract good players, and time on their side. I feel that your side is being chucked together and then parts pulled apart because they haven't immediately flourished and then other parts chucked in, in the hope that it will stick, as time isn't on your side.
If it works you will be formidable, without a doubt, but if not, you will have a lot of good players on immense wages, but without the income (in terms of spending/wages in line with income) to keep the moment going ni terms of big players coming in and wages paid. Then, if the Arabs remain committed, they will be able to pump the money in, but only interms of infrastructure and development. And that would probably still bring you success in the long term, just not in the short term as most people are expecting (and the owners are probably demanding).
Even so, because of the amount of good players you have, you will still win far more games than you lose, even if you don't gel as a team. Just not sure you can challenge for the title this year, adn make get dragged into another dogfight for the CL spots.
Just the way I see it.

In regard to the Bellamy situation: I can understand why you would take that position, but I feel quite sorry for the fella. He put himself on the line for you like no other player, last season (not even Tevez), and that was while being (insultingly) ignored by the manager for half a season. And now he is being told he isn't wanted, in a public and humiliating way, and he has to sign for a team he doesn't want to pay for (who probably won't compete), but they would rather let him rot than go to a team he wants to go to, who are willing to meet the asking price. I'd be a bit pissed too. Having said that, I was absolutely shocked when he was laughing and hugging 'Arry, on the pitch, within seconds of sich a vital game, after the match at Eastlands...and I suspect that didn't help his cause.

 

[PT]

On the subject of Bellamy though, I'm behind the manager. He's been very good for us, but if he's a disruptive influence on the team, he should be gotten rid of. Going on SSN like he did last week was nothing short of disgraceful.

In the man's defence, he's watched striker after striker brought in to leapfrog his status in the team since his arrival and yet last season he was arguably your best and most effective player, albeit argumentative and problematic to the new Manager.

So on to close / pre season and he's seen Balotelli likned and subesquently purchased and then told that he won't be part of the 25 man Premiership squad.

What do you expect him to do at 31 years old? He did what any player who loves to play would do - get his predicament out in to the public domain.

Manchester City would be within their legal rights to dump in the Elite Squad for at least half a season but morally, those that don't make the 25 must be forgiven for thinking they have no place at Manchester City, the graveyard for many a discarded player and anyone with a touch of pride is going to scrap to escape.

 

[Stoof]

Exactly!

He made the fuck up in the first place. His pace makes him look better than he is, blah blah blah been saying this for years.

He had a little spell last season when i actually thought he looked fairly decent. The rest of the team were flying at the time though and after a few weeks of looking great went back to being utter dogshit.

He's not good enough.

Sorry, AW, but Benny was class today. Yes he had one little slip, but nothing more than any of the other guys.

He had a very good game and linked up tremendously with Bale.

 

[I'mNotReallyHere]

In the man's defence, he's watched striker after striker brought in to leapfrog his status in the team since his arrival and yet last season he was arguably your best and most effective player, albeit argumentative and problematic to the new Manager.

So on to close / pre season and he's seen Balotelli likned and subesquently purchased and then told that he won't be part of the 25 man Premiership squad.

What do you expect him to do at 31 years old? He did what any player who loves to play would do - get his predicament out in to the public domain.

Manchester City would be within their legal rights to dump in the Elite Squad for at least half a season but morally, those that don't make the 25 must be forgiven for thinking they have no place at Manchester City, the graveyard for many a discarded player and anyone with a touch of pride is going to scrap to escape.

I agree he probably has the right to feel aggrieved with the new arrivals etc, but going to SSN isn't really the way to resolve it IMO. He certainly didn't endear himself to the fans or the club by doing so. I'm not sure he's telling the entire truth re the 'not spoken to the manager for 6 months' business either. Given Bellamy played most games under Mancini last season, would it not have been difficult for him to not talk to him? I like Bellamy, but sometimes his mouth gets the better of him. I think however, we're looking to sell him now (and if it's to Spurs I wouldn't really mind now, given we've played you already) and that's probably for the best. Sad to see him go but it's probably the right decision.

 

[SpurSince57]

Good points, agree fully. It was noticeable how our movement and passing became sharper when Pav and Keane replaced Crouch and Defoe, and when Giovani finally came on too.

In the 2nd half we ran out of ideas and the changes should have been made earlier to present different problems to them.
Also, strange how Silva who had longer journey back than Giovani was OK to play more than an hour from the start, while Gio was presumably rested till 15 min to go...

Given Silva's anodyne, jet-lagged performance, it might have better to allow him a cameo as well. dos Santos, by contrast, was positively sparkling—easily his best showing for us against quality opposition in a competitive game.

He's probably going to play a part on Tuesday as well, so restricting him to a 15-minute run-out seems good sense.

 

[sloth]

we've got a better squad of players but you've got a better team. May the best team over the season reach the CL

Oh, and g'luck in the week for your CL game.

Thanks for the respectful nature of your post, but I couldn't quite let the above go by without a challenge.

Beneath is a table of both sides nominal first and second teams, there might be arguments about who is the really the first team and who the second and for sure you've got a glut of strikers not included in here (primarily because you can't play them all; which sort of highlights the disjointed nature of your boards recruitment drive :roll, but the main thing is I think you'd struggle to say one squad was better than another, whereas I think our first team is definitely more settled.

 

[AW?]

Sorry, AW, but Benny was class today. Yes he had one little slip, but nothing more than any of the other guys.

He had a very good game and linked up tremendously with Bale.

I was a bit pissed earlier so i'll watch the game again.

Maybe it just stood out more for me that bit. Gomes didn't have to deal with a lot.


I can't believe i still can't spell Gomes right.

 

[I'mNotReallyHere]

Thanks for the respectful nature of your post, but I couldn't quite let the above go by without a challenge.

Beneath is a table of both sides nominal first and second teams, there might be arguments about who is the really the first team and who the second and for sure you've got a glut of strikers not included in here (primarily because you can't play them all; which sort of highlights the disjointed nature of your boards recruitment drive :roll, but the main thing is I think you'd struggle to say one squad was better than another, whereas I think our first team is definitely more settled.

I agree about the glut of strikers; but you'll find a lot of those will be off before the end of the transfer window. Bellamy seems like a dead cert, Crocky Santa Cruz maybe, Caicedo's already gone to West Ham. Also agree about your first team being more settled and gelled than ours. However I still think we have a touch more strength in depth than Spurs at the moment. Having said that we are two very similarly sized clubs even if you lot have had the best of the vast majority of recent meetings (I hold onto that 4-3 cup win years back when we were shit, with KK as manager :wink

 

[sloth]

(I hold onto that 4-3 cup win years back when we were shit, with KK as manager :wink

I was trying to forget about that!

Not sure if that list represented a combined team I'd find much energy to be upset if any of those players got played before any other. It seems to me that our first and second teams are both remarkably strong, with us a little more creative and you a bit more powerful. Time will tell I guess.

Good luck for the rest of the season, I think City fans are some of the best even if I'm uncomfortable the concept of billionaire playboys buying our teams like the latest must have fashion accessories.

 

[thinktank]

Thanks for the respectful nature of your post, but I couldn't quite let the above go by without a challenge.

Beneath is a table of both sides nominal first and second teams, there might be arguments about who is the really the first team and who the second and for sure you've got a glut of strikers not included in here (primarily because you can't play them all; which sort of highlights the disjointed nature of your boards recruitment drive :roll, but the main thing is I think you'd struggle to say one squad was better than another, whereas I think our first team is definitely more settled.

Harry has really done a great job with our squad, love it. :grin:

 

[StartingPrice]

Harry has really done a great job with our squad, love it. :grin:

Credit where it is due...Damien Comolli did a great job getting a lot of those players into our squad; 'Arry has done a great job filling it out in the right places (where Comolli had failed/neglected).

 

[Dr Know]

I'm just watching the highlights again and I've just realised how pissed off I am that Defoe didn't score when he was one on one with Hart!!! I think even Kaboom would have scored that!

I can give Bale a let off somewhat because it was on his weak foot